Himalaya

Series: Himalaya
Chapter: Day 82: Lugu Lake to Lijiang
Country/sea: China
Place: Baisha
Book page no: 193

Day 82: Lugu Lake to Lijiang

Lijiang, China
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Mrs Ho in traditional costume of the Naxi, another minority people of Yunnan.

The walls of the front room are adorned with hundreds of visiting cards as well as pictures of Mao, the Queen, Princess Di and Deng Xiaoping. Several of Bruce Chatwin's books, in plastic wrapping, hang from the ceiling like holy relics. My own visit has caused enormous excitement, for apparently I have been here before, with John Cleese, my fellow Monty Python.

Before I can clear this one up, Dr Ho appears, sidling diffidently into the room. He must be in his mid-seventies, and sports a black, knitted scarf and hat and a white lab coat. His face is that of the classic wise old Chinaman, thin, with a wispy white beard and moustache. His eyes are bright and responsive.

He clutches my hand and says how nice it is to see me again.

I'm aware of other visitors hovering – a French girl, two Japanese and two Australian doctors, who tell me they are here to discuss Dr Ho's treatment of prostate cancer. Ho Shulong, hearing our conversation, thrusts a sheaf of documents in front of me. They're from a physician at the Mayo Clinic in America, acknowledging the part that Dr Ho's herbal treatment played in the recovery of a patient from prostate cancer.

Auto-rickshaw delivers me to Dr. Ho's clinic. Man in white coat is waiting for me. Turns out to be the Doctor's son, business manager and public relations adviser, Ho Shulong.